Winged cultivator



1950 w. A. HYLAND ETAL 2,498,888

WINGED CULTIVATOR Original Filed Sept. 10, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

' IN V EN TORS WILLIAM A. HYLAND ERNST E. SCHNELL ATTORNEYS Feb. 28,1950 w. A. HYLAND ETAL WINGED CULTIVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original FiledSept. 10, 1945 INVENTORS WlLLlAM A. HYLAND ERNST E SCHNELL y A ORNEYS F28, 1950 w. A. HYLAND ETAL 2,498,888

WINGED CULTIVATOR '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original'Filed Sept. 10, 1943 FIG. 3

ISI

I43 I70 i Patented Feb. 28, 1950 WINGED CULTIVATOR William A. Hyland andErnst E.-Schnell, Horicon,

Wis., assignors to John Deer'e Van Brunt Company, a corporation ofWisconsin Original application September 10, 1943, Serial No. 501,882.Divided and this application September 28, 1944, Serial No. 556,220

This application is a division of our application, Serial No. 501,882,filed September 10, 1943,

9 Claims. (Cl. 55-93) now Patent No. 2,429,552, dated October 21, 1947.

The present invention relates generally to agricultural machines andmore particularly to cultivating machines of the type that is adapted tobe mounted directly on a propelling tractor.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provisionof a weeder comprising hingedly connected sections with suitable biasingmeans serving not only to hold the sections in operating position butalso to hold them in an inoperative or transport position, therebysimplifying the construction and enabling the outfit to pass throughnarrow gates and other restricted areas.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of improvedlifting connections mounted on the frame and connected with the tractorwhereby, when first lifting the tools, there is a relatively high ratioof movement of the lifting lever to the corresponding movement of thetool frame, which ratio is materially reduced after the tools have beenlifted clear of the ground, at which time the load becomes relativelylight. Another feature of this invention is the provision of improvedpower connections arranged whereby movement of an adjusting member onthe imple-- ment frame may be utilized for adjusting the depth ofoperation of the implement. It is also a feature of this invention toprovide new and improved frame and hitch means, with appropriateconnections, whereby the cultivator may be mounted on an implement frameto be propelled by the tractor.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide an implement for usewith a tractor having a power lift, the implement having a hand leverand suitable connections which are adapted to be connected with thetractor power lift, whereby the latter may be utilized for raising orlowering the implement while the adjusting member on the implementitself is utilized for adjusting the depth of operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an integral or tractor mounted weeder in whichthe principles of the present invention havebeen incorporated.

Figure 2 is an end view of the weeder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the weeder shown in Figure 1, with the outersections in extended position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line99 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear view showing the raised position of anend section.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the tractor isindicated in its entirety by the reference numeral la and is ofconventional construction, including front steering wheels (not shown),frame means 2, a tractor motor 3 and a rear axle 4 which includeslaterally outwardly directed quill sections 5 in which axle shafts '6are journaled for rotation. Rear traction wheels 1 are fixed to the axleshafts 6.

An implement frame is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral10 and includes a pair of generally longitudinally extending laterallyspaced frame bars H and I2 connected together at their front ends by apair of cross braces which are bolted or otherwisesecured at their endsto the horizontal flanges of the angles forming the frame bars II andI2, as is shown in more detail in the above-identified parentapplication. Secured to the forward end of each of the frame bars H andl2, as best shown in Figure. 2, is a pair of connecting straps ll whichare provided with a plurality of openings to receive bolt means by whichthe connecting straps are secured to the frame bars in differentpositions. The front ends of the straps of each pair are apertured toreceive a connecting pin IS. The other frame bar is also provided with asimilar pair of connecting straps apertured to receive a connecting pin,and as best shown in Figure 2, the connecting pins l9 serve to pivotallyconnect the implement frame Ill with an attaching strap 2| which isbolted to a draw angle 20 connected by hanger elements 23 to the frame 2of the tractor. Also, hitch members 25 are connected at their rear endsto the end portions of the draw angle 20 and at their forward ends tothe front portion of the tractor frame. The front braces, mentionedabove, serve to maintain the frame bars II and I2 in laterally spacedrelation and the rear ends of the frame bars H and I2 are maintained inlaterally spaced relation by the tool unit T that is attached thereto,as will be explained in detail later.

In order to lift the ground engaging tools into their transportposition, we provide raising means that affords a relativel high ratioof movement of the operating means to the corresponding movement of thetool unit in a vertical direction but after the tools have been liftedup to and above the ground surface, the lifting connections are thenadapted to provide a relatively rapid lift to raise the tools into theirfullyraised or transport position.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, a transverse rockshaft 3|is journaled in a. pair of brackets 32 fixed, respectively, to the framebars II and I2. A hand lever 34 is clamped to the rockshaft 3I andoperates adjacent a sector 35 which is fixed to the right hand frame barI2. At the other side of the tool frame the rockshaft 3| carries a cammember 38 clamped to the rockshaft adjacent the left hand bracket 32.The cam member is provided with a slot at its rear portion to receiveone of the rear links of a chain 4I that at its other end is connectedto a spring 42 that, in turn, is anchored to 9. lug on the forwardportion of the frame bar II. The cam 38 is so shaped that the springexerts a substantially constant force tending to turn the rockshaft 3|in 'a clockwise direction (Figure 2).

The rockshaft 3| extends laterally outwardly beyond the bracket at eachside of the frame I0, and secured to each end of the rockshaft 3I is apair of arms 46 and 41. A chain 55 is connected at its lower end to eachof the arms 46 and 41, and at its upper end, each chain is connected toa power lift rockshaft arm I22 at each side of the tractor. The arms I22are fixed to a power lift rockshaft I2I, and the rockshaft I2I and armsI22 form a part of a power lift unit which is indicated in its entiretyby the reference numeral I20 and preferably forms a part of the tractorIa. A power lift of this type is shown in the prior United States patentto E. McCormick et al., 2,107,760, dated February 8, 1938, to whichreference may be had if necessary. It will be noted from Figure 2 thatwhen the implement is in a lowered or operating position the chain 55and the arm I22 at each side of the tractor are disposed more or less ina straight line relation. Hence, when the tractor power'lift is actuatedto raise the implement into a'transport position, the first liftingmovement takes place at a ratio of movement of power lift arm tocorresponding movement of the implement frame in a vertical directionthat is relatively high, thus preventing any tendency to overload thepower lift unit of the tractor when raising the implement with the toolsstill in the ground. After the tools have been lifted clear of theground, each chain 55 extends more or less at the right angle to theassociated arm I22 and hence the lift is more rapid. This provides for asubstantially uniform application of power.

The implement T comprises an integral weeder adapted to be secured tothe rear portions of the main frame angles II and I2. The implement '1includes three sections, a center section I30 and right and left endsections I3I and I32. The end sections I3I and I32 are substantiallyidentical. The center section I30 comprises a plurality of transverseangles I35 which are connected together at their ends by end bars I36. Aplurality of weeder teeth I31 are bolted to each of the bars I36, theteeth being arranged in stagzered relation. The bars I35 are bolteddirectly to the rear portions of the main frame angles II and I2, asindicated at I38. the bolts I38 passing through the horizontal flangesof the weeder angles I35 and the lower horizontal flanges of the mainframe mgles II and I2. Each of the end weeder sections I3I and I32 is ofsimilar construction, including a plurality of transverse angles Iconnected together at their outer ends by an end angle I42. Attheirinner ends the angles I4I are secured to a yoke I43 in the form ofa U-shaped member made of an angle or other shape, the horizontal flangeof the yoke I43 being bolted at a number of -points to the inner endportions of the angles MI. The ends of the yoke are apertured to receivebolts I45 by which a strap member I46 is fixed to the outer side and asecond strap member I41 having. an offset end I40 is fixed to each endof the yoke I43. The pairs of straps I46, I41 are apertured to receivethe ends of a hinge rod I5I that is supported by brackets I52 fixed tothe front and rear weeder frame angles MI. The rod I5I thus forms thehinge connection between the center weeder section and the laterallyouter section I3I. The other outer section 332 is connected with theinner section I30 in substantially the same manner and hence furtherdetailed description is believed to be unnecessary. It will be notedthat the brackets I52 are, at each side of the center section I30,disposed laterally inwardly of the ends of the center section and thatthe yokes I43 abut against the ends of the weeder frame angles I4I whenthe three sections are extended. Each outer section is adapted to swingupwardly about the hinge rod I5I but is limited in its downward movementrelative to the center section by the construction just described. Eachof the laterally outer sections is reenforced by two pair of cross barsI55 and I56 which at their ends are bolted to the front and rear anglesand at their center are connected by a stud I58 and bushings I59 withthe central portion of the center angle.

According to the principles of the present invention, means is providedto serve the dual purpose of yieldingly holding the outer sections downin operating position or in their upper or transport position. As bestshown in Figure 5, when each laterally outer weeder section is swungupwardly into a transport position, it is disposed substantially overthe ends of the main frame bars II and I2, and to hold the hingedsections against further downward movement, each section is providedwith a pair of struts or stop members I6I held in place by one of thebolts I45 and disposed so as to rest against the front and rear anglesof the center section I30. Each laterally outer or hinged section isprovided with a downwardly extending bracket I63 which is bolted to theadjacent part of the center weeder frame angle, as indicated at I64. Asimilar bracket I65 is bolted, as at I66, to the intermediate frameangle of the center section I30. The

, bracket I65 carries a pivot bolt I61 by which a generally U-shapedconnecting link or yoke I69 is pivoted, at one end. At the other end theconnecting link I69 receives the inner end of a biasing tension springI10, the outer end of which is connected by an adjusting bolt I1I to thelower end'of the bracket I63. As best shown in Figure 4, the connectinglink I69 is formed so as to clear the pivot rod I5I while accommodatingthe disposition of the biasing spring I10 in a line that extends fromthe bracket I63 to the bracket I 65 below the pivot rod i5I. The tensionin the spring I10 is adjusted so as to exert the desired pressuretending to hold the outer weeder section to its work, yet when the outersection is swung upwardly into its transport position the tension of thespring I10 is exerted in a line thatpasses to the left of the rod I5I,thereby acting to hold the raised section in its transport position.Thus, the single spring connection serves the dual purpose of holdingthe laterally outer section down to its work and also.

when raised to its transport position, in thatsubstantially the samemeans and hence the same reference numerals have been employed. However,it is to be noted that in order to permit the use of identical brackets,the brackets I63 and I65 are bolted to the weeder sections in slightlydifferent locations, thus rendering it unnecessary to provide right andleft hand brackets.

The gauge wheel construction used with the integral weeder, describedabove, may be quite similar to that used with the field cultivator shownin the above-identified parent application. Each gauge wheel I ismounted for rotation on the lower end of a gauge whee1 shank IOI, theupper end of which is received for vertical adjustment in a bracket I03fixed in any suitable way to the front frame angle I35. A pin or boltcarried by the bracket I03 is adapted to be disposed in one or the otherof a plurality of openings I86 (see Figure'5) formed in the rear side ofthe gauge wheel shank Illl at the upper end thereof. Each shank I III isheld against displacement by a brace rod I I0 which is secured at isfront end to the shank IUI by a clamp III or the like and at itsrearward end each brace rod H0 is formed with a threaded section IIIIbwhich extends through an opening formed in a lug IIOc that is fixed tothe center angle of the centre weeder section. By tightening the nut onthe threaded end of the rod Hi], the latter is secured firmly to the lugI I lie, thus effectively bracing the spindle of the associated gaugewheel. The construction of the gauge Wheel at the other side of thecenter section is substantially identical and hence need not bedescribed in detail.

It is to be noted that since the hinged weeder sections fold upwardlyand over into a position above the rear ends of the main frame bars, thesupport of the weeder unit in transport is sturdy and rigid. The depthof operation of the weeder teeth is controlled by the hand lever 34which raises or lowers the rear end of the main frame in by reactingagainst the tractor through the chain 55 which serves as suspensionmeans extending between the arm 46 and the tractor car ried arm I22.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in whichthe principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is tobe understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particulardetails shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely differentmeans may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of ourinvention.

What we claim therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a weeder, a plurality of weeder sections comprising a centersection and two laterally outer sections, transverse hinges connectingthe inner ends of the outer sections with the ends, respectively, of thecenter section, each outer section having a depending bracket and theadjacent end of the center section also having a depending bracket, saidbrackets extending below the adjacent hinge, a spring connected to thebracket on each outer section, and a yoke disposed about the associatedhinge and connecting each spring with the adjacent bracket on the centersection, said yoke serving to dispose the spring in a position below theassociated hinge so that the spring tends to hold the associated sectionin its down or operating position, the bracket on each outer sectionbeing swingable with the latter to a. position to carry the line ofaction of the spring above the associated spring so that when the outersection is in its upper transport position the spring serves to hold theouter section in its upper position.

2. The-invention set forth in claim 1, further characterized by a stopmember carried by each of the outer sections and engageable with saidcenter section for determining the transport position of the outersections' 3. An agricultural implement comprising a pair of sections, atransverse member pivotally connecting said sections, a biasing spring,and means connecting said biasing spring with said sections at pointsbetween the sides of the sections and spaced from the pivot axis definedby said transverse member, said connecting means including a yoke memberspanning said transverse member from one side thereof and having endsdisposed at the other side of said transverse member, one of said endsreceiving the action of said biasing spring and the other beingconnected with one of said sections whereby the line of action of saidspring may be disposed at one side of said pivot axis when said sectionsare extended and at the other side of said pivot axis when one sectionis disposed in a position on the other section.

4. A weeder comprising support means, tool means comprising a pluralityof weeder sections including a center section and a pair of outersections and hinge means pivotally connecting said sections together,means fixing the center section to said support means, spring meansacting between said center section and each of the outer sections andconnections between each of said spring means and the associated centerand outer sections at points on said sections which lie on oppositesides of said hinge axes, respectively, and in lines passing below thehinge axes when the outer sections are lowered and which, when the outersections are raised, lie in lines passing above the hinge axes, wherebythe outer sections are urged toward a working position when the outersections are in operating position and toward a transport position whensaid outer sections are swung upwardly about their hinged connectionswith the center section.

5. In a weeder, a plurality of weeder sections comprising a centersection and two laterally outer sections, means hingedly connecting theouter sections with the ends, respectively, of the center section formovement relative thereto, each about an axis, a pair of springs, oneconnected at its inner end to each end portion of the center section andat its outer end to the associated outer section, and means comprisingbrackets establishing said connections and said brackets extendingdownwardly so that, when the outer section is in outwardly extendingposition, the line of action of said spring passes below said axis andwhen the outer section is in an upper folded position said line passesabove said axis.

6. In a cultivator or the like, a plurality of sections comprising acenter section and two laterally outer sections, means hingedlyconnecting the outer sections with the ends, respectively, of the centersection, each of said outer sections including a pair of transverselyextending frame members spaced apart in a fore and aftdirection, saidhinged connecting means comprising a yoke fixed to the upper sides ofsaid frame members of each of said outer sections and having endsextending inwardly beyond the inner ends of the associated outer sectionin overlapping relation with and disposed at the upper side of theassociated laterally outer portion of the center section when thesections are extended whereby the outer section, when extended, may bedisposed in alignment with said center section, and

means pivotally connecting the ends of said yoke to the adjacentportions of the center section inwardly of the ends.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 further characterized by the innerends of each of said .yokes being apertured, and said pivotalconnectends of said yoke to said brackets.

8. The invention set forth in claim 6, further characterized by theinner ends of each of said yokes being apertured, and said pivotalconnecting means for each yoke comprising a hinge rod extending throughsaid apertured yoke ends and brackets receiving the ends of said hingerod and fixed to the upper side of said center section.

9. The invention set forth in claim 6, further characterized by theinner ends of each of said yokes being apertured, and said pivotalconnecting means for each yoke comprising a hinge 'rod extending throughsaid apertured yoke ends and brackets receiving the ends of said hingerod and fixed to the upper side of said center section each outersection having a depending bracket and the adjacent end of the centersection also havhis a depending bracket, said brackets extending belowthe adjacent hinge rod, and biasing means connecting each pair 01' innerand outer brackets and including a yoke spanning the associated hingerod whereby a line connecting the inner and outer brackets passes belowthe hinge rod when the sections are extended and above the hing rod whenthe sections are folded.

WILLIAM A. HYLAND. I ERNST E. SCHNEIL. nar naencss CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of patent:

mn'mn STATES PATENTS Number Name 9 Date 399,628 Pearce Mar. 12, 1889499,415 Cardinal June 13, 1893 829,766 Chase Aug. 28, 1906 958,567Ulrich May 17, 1910 1,034,753 Adii': Aug. 6, 1912 1,404,544 Rettig Jan.24, 1922 1,531,975 Reynolds Mar. 31, 1925 2,221,769 Hippie Nov. 19, 19402,266,819 Seaholm Dec, 23, 1941 2,298,161 v Robinson Oct. 6, 19422,302,842 Cook Nov. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 439,787Germany Jan. 15, 1927

